Southern Art Ceramic Design was the preferred contractor to manufacture the new ceramic entrance mural at the prestigious Oyster Box Hotel near Durban in Umhlanga KwaZulu Natal.

We have not received images of the final installation, but here is the image that we have received with the brief.

The brief from M2K Architecture was plain and short;… recreate the above tile mural to the following dimensions of 2650mm wide and 1840 mm high…and to fit precisely into an engineered steel frame at the entrance. This contract was successfully delivered after having received an extreme short deadline of 15 working days!

“We are confident that Southern Art can produce the required quality and product within the time frames allowed, their quote seems reasonable and realistic.”In ceramic terms, it means that one prepares for the worst, and backup tiles for the ceramic panel were produced at the same time as the final ceramic mural was in progress and reaching completion!

The next image shows just one aspect of the R&D prior to producing the final panel, and that is experimenting with different brushes to mimic the original paint techniques!

Besides the above, shrinkage tests, colour coordination, layouts & design, transfer of design to the tiles, etc. etc. had to be done within the first few days … even before the contract was confirmed … as it would have been impossible to deliver a mural like this successfully if we had to wait for final confirmation!

Contracts like these that seem so simple in process are actually quite complex to execute within a tight deadline, and only professionals will appreciate this!

And a compliment from the team installing the panel:

” The sign tiles were SO well packed and So well marked so such a pleasure to install!

regards
Jane”

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At last!, a few interior  images of one of the Benguerra villas that we were involved with.

Below, you can see the detail and accuracy involved when we produce the tiles. The corner tiles were mitered for a snug fit and small inserts were made to finish off small areas. We worked from detailed architectural drawings and in turn provided detailed diagrams for installation. At the studio templates were drawn of the scaled architectural drawings and the completed tiles were then arranged on these templates to assure that it will fit when the contractors install the intricate patterns. The installation diagrams were not always followed, I suppose it was due to the learning curve, when the contractors, possibly for the first time ever, had to install handmade geometric designs like these! But, you must agree - the end result is still awesome!

These majestic columns are the foundation of these African inspired interiors. Besides the columns we produced thousands of green mosaics for tiled built in benches, of which we unfortunately have no good images as yet.

To create harmonious interiors we need to play with for example, contrasts, as one of the design elements. The shiny cool glass or glaze of the tiles will be used to contrast with the matt earthiness of Cemcrete Earth Coats, a cement based paint produced by the client and owner of Cemcrete in South Africa. The smooth tiles will also be utilized to contrast with the textured fabrics and coarse wall coats.

The rich saturated African colour scheme was carried through in all the materials and is the powerful cohesive force working on the emotive interpretation of the visitor and/or guest.

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The Honneysett’s commissioned Gillian to create a ceramic art mural at the entrance of their seafront apartment. In their mind’s eye they saw dancing figures in a modern progressive style, with vibrant colours and powerful dynamics.

Note the side tile panels which were done in fluid grey tones extending the dynamic contours from the main panel. The adjacent colours reflect onto the grey tiles which add a further dynamic to this richly decorative ceramic art mural. The blacks are intense and enhance the feeling of space and the powerful movement in the agile dancing bodies.

The clients are ecstatic with their latest art acquisition and we are thankful for a commission that is “off the beaten track”!

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Our ongoing customized colour & glaze development has as a result enhanced another “One Of A Kind Kitchen”.  These handmade and hand dipped porcelain tiles with their green-grey tones with a slight smokiness to them but at the same time the colour is pure enough to be fresh, resulting in a timeless and sophisticated finish, and will attract many more compliments in the decades to come!

The handmade ceramic tiled backsplash with French words have refreshed this classically English inspired kitchen, with a surprising French flair.

The incredible and overwhelming  response from her friends and visitors caused this client to remark ” It was a bargain!” I am extremely confident that our commodity delivers more value per rand than any of the other appliances and decorative enhancments that a client will aquire for their kitchen!

The uniqueness of our products will always deliver value for your money - our product is more than just a tile, it is a commodity, designed with care and with special attention to your interior needs!

We are the top customization studio around and I believe that no kitchen can be truly One Of A Kind without our commodities.

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It took us more than a year to photograph this kitchen with it’s joyous green backsplash tiles. What a pleasant occasion! First of all, being situated in Higgovale, Cape Town, just below Table Mountain makes for a stunning position … a dream come true. The kitchen is a true showcase of a young artistic family, with the mother and children indulging in art, creating these awe-inspiring horses and elephants during their spare time in a petite studio with a true IMAX view!

The client requested a mix of green tones in these chunky tiles. The greens were customized and has since been a hit with other tile contracts as well.

One would expect to find these tiles in a country farm kitchen, but this nothing like that, it is modern with the all important tiles adding soulfulness, a quality so often neglected by professional teams when they design the most important room in your house! It compliments the modern materials like the stainless steel rails and cast concrete work surfaces, but at the same time finds support in the character of the checkerboard wood table where the family sits, eats and shares!

Green creates an atmosphere of harmony, balance and peace. The green glaze radiates sympathy, kindness and understanding and it is a call for us to come home, to rest and to share precious time with our beloved friends and family. Green develops an awareness of the soul and this next image relate to exactly that quality!

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These Sculptural art tiles were created with composite pieces of ceramics and then instinctively painted with an oversize brush and the use of a swift moving hand.

I created these faces in 2008 and kept them close to my heart for a long time, well till now, when it got sold. The client just “clicked’ with my work, a great feeling when considering the progressiveness of style and emotion.

It is only the face at the top right which display female features, with the rest all male. This was not intentional and only appear as I build a relationship and interact with the 3d canvass during the process of creation.

These faces will be displayed in a penthouse right on the seafront of Umhlanga Rocks and not far from a previous contract at the Oyster Box hotel.

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